hello, this is bbc news. we start with the latest on the war in ukraine. president biden has blamed russia's capture of a frontline town in eastern ukraine on the failure of us lawmakers to approve a huge package of military aid for kyiv. president biden spoke to president zelensky after ukrainian forces pulled out of avdiivka. mr biden told him he was confident politicians in congress would approve the billions of dollars in additional war aid. president putin has congratulated the soldiers who captured the town. our correspondent simon jones has this report. withdrawal. ukrainian soldiers forced to retreat from avdiivka, a key town in the east of ukraine. although they are still fighting, a shortage of supplies and ammunition has been blamed for giving russia one of its biggest military victories for months.

the white house is warning the stakes for ukraine and for the entire world remain high. president biden is calling on american politicians to pass the latest package of military aid for kyiv, which has been blocked by common progress. — congress. look, the ukrainian people fought so bravely and heroically, they put so much on the line, and the idea that now, running out of ammunition, we walk away, i find it absurd and ifind it and unethical, ifind itjust contrary to everything we are as a country. so i'm going to fight to get them the ammunition they need. the ukrainian president was in munich where senior defence officials and world leaders have been gathering a week before the two—year anniversary of russia's full—scale invasion of ukraine. president zelensky repeated his appealfor more weapons to avoid what he called a catastrophic situation in europe.

translation: we are very much counting on this positive - decision of congress. for us, this package is vital. we are not considering alternatives today because we count on the united states as our strategic partner, and that it will remain a strategic partner. as russian flags are raised in the centre of avdiivka, president putin has congratulated the russian military on what he called an important victory. but the conflict goes on. to the west of the town, ukrainian troops have been digging trenches to reinforce their defensive lines. the sound of war is never far away. ukraine insists its people have the spirit to win but it knows it needs international help to force russia to retreat. simon jones, bbc news. it's the final day of the munich security conference

where the war in ukraine is one of the main topics. lots of the world leaders. this is one of the discussions that is happening live at the moment in munich, and we will be in the german city a little later with our chief international correspondent, who has been talking to a lot of the leaders about the issue of the war in ukraine. and also, another issue that has been dominating that conference over the last couple of days, of which it is the last day, is the death of alexei navalny, which is what we will turn our attention to now. the family of the russian opposition activist alexei navalny has accused the russian authorities of trying to cover their tracks by refusing to hand over his body. navalny�*s team believes the opposition leader was murdered but russia's foreign ministry has rejected these claims. his death has sparked international condemnation with memorials for navalny taking place in several nations. in russia more than 350 people have been detained following vigils. our eastern europe correspondent, sarah rainsford has this report.

ever since the death of alexei navalny, people have been leaving tributes. but in putin's russia, even laying flowers can be risky, if you're doing it in memory of his biggest opponent. whenever anger or upset have boiled over, police have moved in. hundreds of people have been arrested across the country, dragged away by police who have cleared the streets. this is the russia that alexei navalny and his supporters wanted to change, but three years ago, he was poisoned with a nerve agent, then he was locked up. the last time the politician was seen alive, he was defiantly cheerful. this was him on video link from prison to a court hearing and there were no obvious signs of sickness. but inside his arctic prison, he was spending weeks on end in solitary confinement.

the authorities say he collapsed suddenly. the cause the cause of his death is still unknown. and when navalny�*s mother arrived to collect his body, she not find her son. the body of alexei navalny is not there, so alexei's prison just lied to his lawyer and his mother that the body is there and so we don't have any clue where he is now, and what is happening to him, and when it will be given to the family. chanting. alexei navalny was a rare voice of dissent in russia where vladimir putin has been crushing political opposition over two decades. the activist could still bring big crowds onto the streets with his campaigns against corruption and against the kremlin. he supporters blame putin for his death because navalny was only in prison for his politics. the russian president is saying nothing, for now, getting on with business as usual.

when navalny was alive, putin never uttered his name. but the flowers speak for his supporters — a quiet tribute to a man who told them to believe in a beautiful russia of the future. harder for them to envisage now than ever. sarah rainsford, bbc news. asi as i mentioned, the issue of alexei navalny and also the war in ukraine has been dominating the security conference that is taking place in munich. the war in ukraine, the war in gaza, in many places, and they have dominated this conference. of course, the unpredictable and unexpected death of alexei navalny, which still dominate the discussions today because it emphasises concerns

about russia �*s more, the full—scale invasion of ukraine as it reaches its second year mark. the maximum for this conference was a lose lose. a depressing warning about geopolitical tension, as well as economic uncertainty, which the security conference in belize is leading countries away from international cooperation. watching the world very closely is our next guest, david miliband, the president and ceo of the international rescue committee and former foreign secretary. lose lose. is that the world in which we live in now? this has been the _ world in which we live in now? ti 3 has been the confidence of a disordered world. the conference of a world dominated by impunity, and the fact that mrs navalny was due to address the conference a couple of hours before she came here when the news of the death of her husband, in a way that set the tone. this is a

world in which the rules, the guard rails, the stabilisers are not working, and that is why you have got so much instability, so much disorder. notjust in gaza, in israel, in ukraine that you mentioned, but more widely elsewhere where humanitarian crisis is not even getting on the agenda. some countries feel _ even getting on the agenda. some countries feel that _ even getting on the agenda. some countries feel that they _ even getting on the agenda. some countries feel that they are - countries feel that they are forgotten and losing almost everything. forgotten and losing almost everything-— forgotten and losing almost everything. forgotten and losing almost eve hina. �* ., , everything. and that is true. the oint to everything. and that is true. the point to understand _ everything. and that is true. the point to understand is _ everything. and that is true. the point to understand is that - everything. and that is true. the point to understand is that the l point to understand is that the accelerators of conflict, of disorder, are really gaining ground, and the decelerate is, the stabilisers, just are not able to hold the ring. so you have politicians say they international humanitarian law, respect for territorial integrity of states, protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid, but those basics are not being delivered. so before you even get to the peacemaking and the peace building and the prosperous societies that was the original motto of this conference is

60 years ago, peace and prosperity was widely, this conference was created in 1964, transatlantic relations spreading globally, so we have got to stop the rot. that is the lesson of this conference. the urgency of stopping the rot is profound. figs urgency of stopping the rot is profound-— urgency of stopping the rot is rofound. �* , ., ., ., profound. as a former foreign secretary. _ profound. as a former foreign secretary. you _ profound. as a former foreign secretary, you know _ profound. as a former foreign secretary, you know how- profound. as a former foreign | secretary, you know how these conferences work. we have seen so many messages of support, as well as concrete commitments, for example of european countries the us and canada, too, to countries like ukraine. but when you hear them, do you think, well there's lots of promises but the world is going in another direction, even with ukraine? ~ another direction, even with ukraine?— another direction, even with ukraine? ~ ., ., ., ukraine? well, i have not got the intel on what _ ukraine? well, i have not got the intel on what is _ ukraine? well, i have not got the intel on what is actually - ukraine? well, i have not got the | intel on what is actually happening on the battlefield, but we do know there has been some movement. the russians have taken an important town in ukraine, and stalemate is the wrong concept. this is a dynamic

situation, and we know that things don't change until they change very fast, and i think that it is very important to understand that this disordered world is one where things can change very, very quickly indeed. we saw that on october the 7th with the hamas attack in israel, and all that has gone beyond. i want to make one other point. people often say it is a more connected world. we see that in our work because a civil war in one country, whether in syria or sudan, it ripples out to affect whole regions of the world, and in this connected world everyone pays the price because syrians who are expelled from their own country become refugees in europe. people who are fleeing from the sudanese civil war end up in south sudan, where i am going tonight. so this is a connected world where the old rules are not holding the ring in effective way.— are not holding the ring in effective wa . ., ., ., ., , effective way. you are a solutions focused man _ effective way. you are a solutions focused man so _

effective way. you are a solutions focused man so where _ effective way. you are a solutions focused man so where is - effective way. you are a solutions focused man so where is the - effective way. you are a solutions| focused man so where is the hope now? , ., , focused man so where is the hope now? , . , ., focused man so where is the hope now? , ., , ., , ., focused man so where is the hope now? , ., , ., now? this has not been a hopeful conference _ now? this has not been a hopeful conference. this _ now? this has not been a hopeful conference. this conference - now? this has not been a hopeful conference. this conference halli now? this has not been a hopeful i conference. this conference hall has been defined by people describing problems, ratherthan been defined by people describing problems, rather than advancing solutions. but problems, rather than advancing solutions. �* , ., problems, rather than advancing solutions. �* , . .,~ solutions. but they are making commitments _ solutions. but they are making commitments and _ solutions. but they are making i commitments and reassurances. solutions. but they are making - commitments and reassurances. it's almost commitments and reassurances. it�*s almost like they know what they need to do, but they can't get it done, and that is the gap i think that needs to be filled. look, there are many solutions out there. they have to be landed. i am in the ngo sector now, the charitable sector, and we are all about where the states aren't working, work with civil society. tackle malnutrition, do effective community peace building, empower women and girls to be the change—makers of the future. we are almost running up a downward escalator, and the downward escalator, and the downward escalator is politics breaking apart. it is breaking apart at a time when the global risks are bigger than ever and that's the real challenge at the moment. daeid challenge at the moment. david miliband, we —

challenge at the moment. david miliband, we wish _ challenge at the moment. david miliband, we wish you _ challenge at the moment. david miliband, we wish you a - challenge at the moment. david miliband, we wish you a safe . challenge at the moment. david miliband, we wish you a safe journey to south sudan and thank you for joining us with profound reflections about the state of the world now, a world that is pulling apart, a world of greater impunity and yet it is a world with problems which go far and wide. we will keep an eye on all the developments, but back to you in london. as she said, the israel— gaza war, one of the things they have been discussing at that conference, and thatis discussing at that conference, and that is what we turn our attention to. the world health organisation says the biggest hospital in southern gaza is now no longer functioning after a raid by israeli forces. the head of the who, dr tedros adhanom ghebreyesus, posted this message... as the conflict in gaza grinds on, the latest talks on a ceasefire between israel and hamas have been described as not very promising. senior officials from a number

of countries have been holding negotiations in cairo to broker a pause in fighting. qatar's prime minister made the comments. it comes as israel's prime minister said he would press ahead with plans for a rafah ground invasion, despite growing international pressure. lets take a listen. translation: even if they reach an agreement, i can't tell you according to hamas �*s delusional positions, it doesn't seem that close. even if we make it, we will enter a raffle. there is no substitute for absolute victory and there is no way to achieve absolute victory without eliminating these battalions in rafah, and we will do it. earlier i spoke to our correspondence from bbc arabic who

gave me the latest about what we know about the biggest hospital in southern gaza no longerfunctioning. some patients have died because of the stoppage of medical equipment. there are reports talking about 100 people who were arrested, and some of them are medical staff. so it is the same scenario exactly as happened with several hospitals before, likely indonesian hospital in the north and the hospital in the city of gaza. this hospital is apparently getting out of service as well. even other nearby hospitals, like the european hospitals, they are not working very well. we had an interview on bbc arabic with a spokesperson with doctors without borders organisation and they said that these hospitals gradually are getting out of service. a journalist

was injured and is currently in the european hospital, and the medical staff are saying unless he will be getting out of gaza because they do not have enough equipment or expertise, he will die in this hospital. it is a dire situation of the hospitals in gaza, and what this spokesperson said, that providing aid and medical resources to these hospitals with negotiations regarding the truth is the thing thatis regarding the truth is the thing that is making life difficult for them. �* ., ., , ., them. and on that, it is not sounding — them. and on that, it is not sounding positive _ them. and on that, it is not sounding positive at - them. and on that, it is not sounding positive at the - them. and on that, it is not - sounding positive at the moment of any chance of having a truce. the qatari prime _ any chance of having a truce. tue: qatari prime minister any chance of having a truce. tte: qatari prime minister said any chance of having a truce. tt2 qatari prime minister said that they are apart and there are many differences, the main differences are around if this pause in fighting

would lead to a permanent ceasefire, and also around the numbers of people that they are going to exchange between hostages and the palestinian prisoners. there are wide positions between the two parties. the israeli premier mr benjamin netanyahu said that if they would accept hamas conditions, that is a defeat for israel. so that big gap between the parties is making this a fighting continue. we saw this a fighting continue. we saw this morning 50 people died in israeli shelling in the middle of gaza and over night, 20 people in rafah and in khan younis, so 70 people over less than ten hours. so unless these parties find common ground, this walk will continue when it should stop. a tough week for labour and the conservative government. two thumping by—election wins for labour, with massive swings

in the vote from the tories, but more accusations of anti—semitism as they're forced to withdraw support for their rochdale candidate after comments surfaced. and as it emerged the uk was dragged into a recession last year, questions over rishi sunak�*s handling of the economy. with more on this, we can go to our political correspondent harry farley. a difficult week for both parties. that's right. labour will be pleased with their thumping victories in those two by—elections in wellingborough in northamptonshire, and in kingswood in south gloucestershire. as you said, near—record swings from the conservatives over to labour, particularly in wellingborough. there is a much more difficult by—election to come for the labour party in rochdale after they had to withdraw support from their candidate, so labour not actually supporting a candidate in a by—election in a constituency that they would be expected to wind. david lammy, the shadow foreign

secretary was on the programme this morning with laura kuenssberg and he was asked about the by—election coming up. t was asked about the by-election coming up-_ coming up. i am sorry that the initialjudgment _ coming up. i am sorry that the initialjudgment was _ coming up. i am sorry that the initialjudgment was that - coming up. i am sorry that the initialjudgment was that he i coming up. i am sorry that the i initialjudgment was that he had made _ initialjudgment was that he had made an— initialjudgment was that he had made an apology, the candidate had made _ made an apology, the candidate had made an— made an apology, the candidate had made an apology, the candidate had made an apology and we could move forward _ made an apology and we could move forward. moore came to light and it was right— forward. moore came to light and it was right that keir starmer acted decisively, i'm afraid, to suspend him, _ decisively, i'm afraid, to suspend him. and — decisively, i'm afraid, to suspend him. and to— decisively, i'm afraid, to suspend him, and to withdraw our support to him, and to withdraw our support to him as_ him, and to withdraw our support to him as a _ him, and to withdraw our support to him as a labour candidate. it does mean _ him as a labour candidate. it does mean that— him as a labour candidate. it does mean that the peat people of rochdale will not have a labour candidate — rochdale will not have a labour candidate on the ticket, and i am very sorry— candidate on the ticket, and i am very sorry that they will not be able _ very sorry that they will not be able to — very sorry that they will not be able to vote labour, but i absolutely stand by that decision. so absolutely stand by that decision. 50 that— absolutely stand by that decision. so that conflict in israel and gaza continuing to cause deep divisions for the labour party. notjust with those questions around anti—semitism, but also this week labour will be facing calls to back an snp motion in the house of

commons to call for a permanent ceasefire in gaza. david lammy was also asked about that and he refused to commit to backing that motion, that snp motion, and said that a permanent ceasefire would come from diplomacy, not through a vote in the house of commons. but he would not say which way labour would vote. but just going back to the by—elections. big questions for the conservatives around their prospects in the general election with those two heavy defeats. michael thomason, the home office minister, was also on the laura kuenssberg programme this morning and he was asked about his response to those heavy defeats. these have been difficult circumstances, and difficult backdrop. you mentioned by—elections. governments don't traditionally wind by—elections. that is— traditionally wind by—elections. that is absolutely right. we saw the turnout _ that is absolutely right. we saw the turnout in _ that is absolutely right. we saw the turnout in the by—elections, very different— turnout in the by—elections, very different from the sort of turn out that you _ different from the sort of turn out that you get at a general election. we are _ that you get at a general election. we are in— that you get at a general election. we are in the 30s for the by—elections. much higher, likely to be by—elections. much higher, likely to he in _ by—elections. much higher, likely to he in the _ by—elections. much higher, likely to be in the 60s, or hopefully towards

the 705 _ be in the 60s, or hopefully towards the 705 in — be in the 60s, or hopefully towards the 705 in a — be in the 60s, or hopefully towards the 70s in a general election. but it has— the 70s in a general election. but it has been— the 70s in a general election. but it has been a very difficult backdrop. one of the messages that i have received, as i said, is in relation — have received, as i said, is in relation to— have received, as i said, is in relation to reform. a vote for reform — relation to reform. a vote for reform just simply let labour in. michaei— reform just simply let labour in. michael thomason mentioning the reform uk party and many conservative mps this weekend very concerned how well they did in both of those by—elections, up to 13% in the wellingborough by—election and thatis the wellingborough by—election and that is causing concerns for the conservatives. so a difficult week for both the conservatives and labour in different ways. dozens of african heads of state are gathered today for the last day of the african union summit in the ethiopian capital of addis ababa. members will determine the fate of donkeys across the continent as nations consider a pan—african moratorium on the slaughter of donkeys for their skins. international animal welfare charity, the donkey sanctuary, published new figures which reveal at least 5.9 million donkeys are slaughtered annually.

the slaughters are part of an increase in the demand of a traditional chinese remedy called ejiao. ejiao is made using collagen from the skins of dead donkeys and marketed as a luxury product. let's speak to chris wainwright, the ceo, brooke — action for working horses and donkeys. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. we have got an idea there from those figures, but what is the scale of the problem?— those figures, but what is the scale of the problem? well, the challenge is enormous. _ of the problem? well, the challenge is enormous, and _ of the problem? well, the challenge is enormous, and it _ of the problem? well, the challenge is enormous, and it is _ of the problem? well, the challenge is enormous, and it is a _ of the problem? well, the challenge is enormous, and it is a devastating | is enormous, and it is a devastating trade, devastating both for the animals, but also for the communities they serve. we think around 6 million donkey skins a year are being traded illegally and legally, and the fact of the matter is with 50 million donkey is worldwide, you can do the maths. you can't replace them easily, so it is a real challenge to the future of

the donkey, particularly in communities where they are so integral to their social and economic development. t5 integral to their social and economic development. integral to their social and economic develoment. . . , economic development. is that why it is especially — economic development. is that why it is especially bad _ economic development. is that why it is especially bad in _ economic development. is that why it is especially bad in africa? _ is especially bad in africa? absolutely. there have been some bands introduced in some african countries and that has made a difference. we know that where a ban is introduced, it also has a significant impact on the illegal trade, but we can't put into words how important donkeys are to these communities. they transport people, goods to market, they help with farming, they do many tasks which otherwise would be left to women and girls, such as collecting water. they are absolutely central to the delivery of the sustainable development goals, so getting a ban or a moratorium is critical notjust for the animals, but for the people as well. d0 for the animals, but for the people as well. ,, for the animals, but for the people as well. , ., ~ for the animals, but for the people as well. i. ~ , as well. do you think this ban across the — as well. do you think this ban across the african _ as well. do you think this ban across the african union - as well. do you think this ban across the african union will. as well. do you think this ban - across the african union will make a difference customerfor across the african union will make a difference customer for example in kenya there is a ban, but the slaughter still happens there? we have to slaughter still happens there? 2 have to be honest. there is no single measure which is a panacea

for all of the ills of this trade, but it is symbolic and it gives us something to work with. it sends a really strong message that these animals are incredibly valuable. they are respected names of their communities. and actually, what it says two people who are trading in that illegal skin is that governments won't stand for it, societies won't stand for it, and actually people will be monitoring and this trade is not going to continue. 50 and this trade is not going to continue-— and this trade is not going to continue. ., , ., ~ ., , continue. so do you think more needs to be done to — continue. so do you think more needs to be done to cut _ continue. so do you think more needs to be done to cut off _ continue. so do you think more needs to be done to cut off the _ continue. so do you think more needs to be done to cut off the chinese - to be done to cut off the chinese end who actually want the donkey skins for these products? yes. end who actually want the donkey skins for these products? yes, we have to work _ skins for these products? yes, we have to work on _ skins for these products? yes, we have to work on both _ skins for these products? yes, we have to work on both supply - skins for these products? yes, we have to work on both supply and l have to work on both supply and demand. the reality is there are already substitutes within the market. we have to work hard up with our partners everywhere around the world to convince people that they should not use this product because not only does it not work, but it is also leading to devastating impact in developing countries. if you look at the us, for example, where a lot

of ejiao is imported, a bill was introduced in congress and whether that will pass or not, i don't know, but again it talks about the growing emergence of this as an issue and the importance people place on ending this trade.— the importance people place on ending this trade. chris wainwright, thank ou. stars of the film world are gearing up for the british academy film awards this evening, celebrating the year s finest movie moments and performances. christopher nolan's "oppenheimer" leads this year's nominations with a total of 13. it will be hosted by david tennant. )finally this half hour are you any good at the samba? well, they certainly are in brazil. six schools have taken part in an all—night parade in rio. dancers trade off their dance skills to crowds at the event, one of the last

of the festive carnival season. the schools are judged not only on their dancing but also their costume design, the floats, drum section, and their overall execution. it certainly looks good to me. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. it was a very soggy night across many parts of the uk and especially wet in the south earlier on today. but here's the good news. if you want some dry and bright weather, well, it's arriving this afternoon. there will be a few showers around, though. here's the weather front on the satellite picture as it clears from west towards the east, a definitive clearance behind this weather front. but even when the sunshine does come out in east anglia, and the southeast, there could be some showers following behind. now, the temperatures on the mild side once again, we're used to this now — 13 in aberdeen, about 11, though, in liverpool and in the south and the southeast, 14 or 15 a clear evening.

and then later tonight, another weather front moves in. this one's quite narrow, though. could be quite heavy, but i don't think the rain is going to last for very long in any one location. again, a relatively mild night — eight in belfast, six or seven, i think for the most part, maybe a little bit cooler there in aberdeen at three degrees. in the morning, that weather front clears east anglia in the southeast. then this ridge of high pressure moves in. that means lighter winds, clearer skies, plenty of sunny spells. and again, temperatures typically double figures across the board. so that's monday's weather forecast. let's see what's happening on tuesday. another weather front moves in. so spells of rain for northern ireland, the north quite cloudy around the irish sea and pretty cloudy elsewhere — with that also generally winds coming out of the west southwest so mild across the board. double figures expected on tuesday. up to about 12 to maybe 14 degrees. and then on wednesday, a more substantial dollop of rain heads our way.

this big low pressure there dominating the north atlantic and its weather front sweeping across the uk. we think the heaviest of the rain will be in the first half of the day. so that means the afternoon is looking a little bit brighter, but breezy, i think, with frequent showers, especially here in the northwest, and typically around 12 celsius. towards the end of the week, we'll see that milder air pushing towards the east of the continent. a shot of not necessarily cold air, but cooler air arriving. so that means that the temperatures will ease from what's very mild at the moment to something closer to the seasonal norm, and a mixed bag with that as well. bye bye.

this is bbc news, the headlines. president biden steps up calls for us law makers to pass a huge package of military aid for ukraine, saying their inaction had left ukrainian troops without enough ammunition. the idea that they are now running out of ammunition and we walk away? ifind itabsurd, ifind it unethical. i find it this country and everything we are as a country. the world health organisation says gaza's second biggest hospital is now completely out of service following an israeli raid. the family of alexei navalny call on russian authorities to release his body, accusing them of concealing evidence.

thailand's former prime minister, thaksin shinawatra, has arrived at his mansion in bangkok after being released on parole. and its british film's big night later — oppenhemier has the most bafta nominations but will it win big? let's get more now on our top story and president biden's renewed appeal to the us lawmakers to pass a military aid package for ukraine, after russian forces captured the town of avdiivka. the war in ukraine is one of the main issues on the agenda of the munich security conference. 0ur security correspondent frank gardner is in munich with more. good morning from, as you say, the third and final day of this absolutely crucial security conference coming at a very critical time for ukraine and for nato. and a lot of questions about whether the west can give ukraine the support it needs in time to fend off advancing russian forces.

with me here is us congressman hines from connecticut.